Man apparently electrocuted on Blue Line third rail

Man apparently electrocuted on Blue Line third rail (Tribune illustration)

Staff report

A West Side man was apparently electrocuted this evening in Forest Park when he made contact with the electrified third rail in a CTA train yard.

Ray Lynch, 66, of the 3500 block of West Van Buren Street, was found on the electrified rail in the 700 block of Des Plaines Avenue in the west suburb, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the victim was found in a yard where trains are moved in and out of service and he was not hit by a train, according to CTA spokesman Brian Steele.

Lynch was pronounced dead on the scene at 6:12 p.m. and an autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Blue Line service was not affected, Steele confirmed.

Police referred inquiries to Forest Park Village manager Tim Gillian, who was not available.